Local Wrap: Downingtown's Esch impressive in 1-0 Legion win

The Downingtown ace threw 119 pitches as the Diamond Dogs blanked host Falls, 1-0, at Pennsbury High in the opening round of the Region 3 American Legion Baseball Tournament.

Downingtown (18-8) will face the Morelanders in a winners’ bracket game today (4 p.m.) at Pennsbury High School.

Esch only gave up four hits, walked one and struck out eight in nine hot innings of work.

“It was an outstanding effort,’’ said Downingtown manager Scott Rambo. “He was in the strike zone all day. He kept their hitters off balance, and we played great defense behind him.’’

Downingtown won it with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Max Edgin scored on a passed ball.

Edgin reached base on an error, and Ryan McCole singled to right. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and Alex Jankowski came to the plate.

“Alex walked, but on the (ball four) pitch, their catcher got crossed up,’’ said Rambo. “The ball hit him in the mask and popped straight up in the air.

“Edgin took off, and the ball was only three feet away from the catcher, but he couldn’t find it right away. He finally found it, but Edgin got his foot in. It was kind of a crazy play, but we’ll take it.’’

Esch worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second when the Diamond Dogs turned a 6-4-3 double play.

Left fielder Dalton Reed also made a diving catch in the ninth inning to help preserve the shutout.

Doug Conrad and McCole both finished 2-for-3 to lead Downingtown at the plate.

“We played Falls in a nonleague doubleheader earlier in season,’’ said Rambo. “We saw the pitcher they threw at us, so we kind of knew what they had.

“They have some hitters in their lineup, but Esch went right through it. Their pitcher did a great job too,”

Conrad is scheduled to start on the mound in today’s game.

Downingtown 1, Falls 0FALLS ab r h bi DOWN. ab r h bi

Garrett ss 4 0 0 0 Conrad cf 3 0 2 0

Ramano 2b 4 0 1 0 Jarema ss 3 0 0 0

Jreko cf 4 0 0 0 Hash 3b 4 0 1 0

Monoleo 3b 4 0 0 0 Krall 1b 4 0 1 0

Fleming p 4 0 2 0 Reed lf 4 0 0 0

Jensen 1b 3 0 1 0 Edgin c 4 1 0 0

Demenlis lf 2 0 0 0 McCole rf 3 0 2 0

McDermott c 3 0 0 0 Marcelli dh 3 0 0 0

Hild rf 3 0 0 0 Welk ph 1 0 0 0

Jankowski 2b 3 0 1 0Totals 31 0 4 0 Totals 32 1 7 0

Falls 000 000 000 -- 0Downingtown 000 000 001 -- 1

Two outs when winning run scored

IP H R BB SOFallsFleming, L 8.2 7 1 1 10

DowningtownEsch, W 9 4 0 1 8Adult Baseball

Timothy’s Crawdads 9, Red Men 2: Chas McCormick pitched a complete game and the Crawdads got off to a strong start with a six-run first in the West Chester Adult Baseball League win at Hoopes Park.

The Crawdads improved to 19-5 and retained their hold on first place, while Red Men (17-7) and dropped to third place.

McCormick scattered seven hits and fanned one.

Mike McCardell had two doubles and an RBI, while Sean Skahan had a double, single and two RBIs.

Nick DeFrank added a double and two RBIs, Derek LaFever drove in two runs with a single, and Ryan McCormick doubled.

Billy Root went 2-for-4 to lead Red Men.

Timothy’s Crawdads 600 101 1 -- 9

Red Men 101 000 0 -- 2WP--C. McCormick. LP--Ahara.

2B--R. McCormick (C), M. McCardell 2 (C), Skahan (C), DeFrank (C).

Ryan’s Pub 3, Englund’s Apparel 2: Ryan’s Pub (18-7) scored the winning run in the top of the seventh and stayed within striking distance of first place in the West Chester Adult Baseball League.

Jon McGlone drove in the game-winner with his second double of the game. McGlone finished 3-for-3, while Julian Pellegrini went 2-for-4. Lenny Del Grippo added a double.

Rob Russell started on the mound and went the first five innings. Dave Owen was the winning pitcher, and Dan Gardo retired the final three batters to gain the save.

Brian Mikus went 2-for-3 for Englund’s (9-16).

Ryan’s Pub 010 010 1 -- 3Englund’s Apparel 000 002 0 -- 2

WP--Owen. LP--Sharpless.2B--McGlone 2 (R), Del Grippo (R).

The Jays 9, Arc Concepts 1: The Jays (13-11) solidified their hold on fourth place in the West Chester Adult Baseball League.

Alex Doyle was the driving force in the win as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a three-run homer in the seventh, and four RBIs.

Ben Wendle pitched the first five innings and gained the win. Brandon Snyder and Jeff Riccardo pitched in relief.